Disclaimer: I don't own any part or character from The Nanny…
A/N: Setting up the next social situation
Chapter 4
Planning for Friday
"Maxwell, I just wanted to remind you that I'll be leaving at lunch on Friday" CC said.
"Hmm?" Maxwell replied, barely looking up from the paperwork on his desk "Is that this Friday? It's that reunion you mentioned right?"
"Yes, the one you refused to accompany me to?"
"Well, I am married now, CC." Maxwell was indignant.
"I asked you to take me to the reunion Maxwell," she answered, just as hotly, and then added " not sleep with me."
Niles had arrived just as she finished that sentence.
"Thank goodness, right Sir?" He smirked. "Imagine spending the night with that!?"
Maxwell looked from one to the other and saw the look that crossed their faces as they did, in fact, let themselves imagine the very thing, and he .shuddered at the thought.
"See, he shuddered!" Niles stated triumphantly!
Seeing the hurt look on CC's face, Maxwell quickly replied "Nonsense Niles, I just got a shiver. Can't you turn off that blasted air conditioning?"
"Nice save, sir" Niles muttered under his breath. Although he had set her up, he didn't enjoy anyone else insulting his lady. He winked at CC as he left the room, and although she smiled in return, he saw that she was affected by Maxwell's reaction.
As soon as Niles was out of earshot, CC looked at Maxwell, who had returned to his work, and said "Am I that repulsive to you Maxwell, that the very thought of being intimate with me makes you shudder in disgust?"
"Wh-at? I told you, it was the air conditioning CC."
"Right, and I'm in direct line for the throne."
Maxwell came around the desk. "Ok, you're right, it wasn't the air conditioning that made me shudder. Niles' comment just set off my imagination and the image that came up is what made me shudder, not you."
"Niles says Imaging spending the night with that, pointing to me, and you get an image in your head that makes you shudder and you expect me to believe that it had nothing to do with me? Frankly Maxwell, I'd have to be an idiot to buy that story."
Maxwell groaned, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable by giving her the details of the image that he had had, since she hadn't openly shared the fact that she was seeing Niles yet, but he also couldn't have her thinking that he found her anything less than beautiful. Truth be told, Maxwell had always admired CC's beauty, grace and poise. She was a remarkable women, too much woman for him in fact. He knew that even though the thought made him wince, Niles was much better suited for the hellcat that was his business partner.
He took her hand in his and caught her eye. "Ok, I'll admit, the image that came to mind had you in it, but it had nothing to do with you being repulsive. In fact, quite the opposite, it was steamy, sexy and hot. That's what made me shudder…from excitement, not repulsion. Niles is the one that labeled it negatively." He stood up, taking her with him. "Now, if you ever let on to Nile's that I said that, I will deny every word!" He smiled warmly at her.
Seeing her smile back, he hoped that he had salvaged the situation.
"Are you ok CC?...Are we ok?"
CC had listened to his description of her and felt that he was telling the truth. She also knew that there was more to the whole thing than he had let on, but she was ok with the way the situation now was between them…and she had ammo she could use at a later date if she needed.
"Yes Maxwell, we are ok. Thank you for explaining that to me. Now, you're sure that you won't reconsider accompanying me on Friday night? I promise to be on my best behaviour and only introduce you as the soon to be divorced Broadway producer."
He saw from her smile that she was only kidding about the last part.
"Thank you for the invitation CC, but I still feel that it would be highly inappropriate for me to take you out while my very pregnant wife stayed home. "
Fran walked in at that moment as well.
"Oh, I couldn't agree with you more, Sweety. But if you did go, you're very pregnant wife would most definitely not stay home, as she might just have to find herself a very available JEWISH professional to show her a good time for the evening." She winked at Max when she said Jewish.
"It's settled then," Maxwell concurred, taking Fran into his lap "I'm staying right here." He kissed his wife and looked at CC. "Why don't you ask Niles to go with you, he's been able to bail you out on such occasions before?"
"Oh yes, I had already asked him, you know, as a backup, in case a better offer didn't come up before Friday. In fact, I think I'll go check and make sure that he hasn't signed up for some silly Butler Bowling or something and confirm what time he'll pick me up."
When she had left the office, shutting the door behind her as she had grown used to doing since Fran and Max had gotten married, Maxwell pulled his wife closer into his arms.
"Backup plan my foot" he murmured before nuzzling her ear.
"What was that?" Fran asked.
"I'm just saying that CC isn't asking Niles as a backup, she really wants to go with him. But she won't admit that, so instead, she makes up this whole scenario, and even asks me to go again, just so she can "settle" for Niles."
"I know, Niles has been kvetching that his Friday night has again been ruined by the wicked witch of the East. They are sooo transparent."
"When do you think they'll actually tell us what is going on?"
"With those two, who knows, but I'm happy for 'em. Niles has a spring in his step that only comes from… well…coming! HA HA! " And they both laughed at that one, soon forgetting about their friends' follies and losing themselves to each other.
CC walked into the kitchen and came up behind Niles, wrapping her arms around his chest from behind.
"I told you, Mrs Sheffield, I don't offer those kinds of services."
"That's not what CC tells me " she answered, in her best nasal voice "She says something about a Jacuzzi?"
Niles turned around quickly and shushed her with a kiss. "Woman" he growled. She welcomed the kiss, it was what she had come after in the first place.
Niles pulled away "Are you ok?" he searched her eyes.
"Yes. I'm actually better than ok." Seeing only calm and happiness reflected back at him, he believed her.
"You are, aren't you?"
"Yes. I get to take you to my reunion on Friday night, and Max told me he finds me exciting and sexy!" Niles eyes went wide. "And now, that look on your face makes it a very good day!" She laughed her sultry laugh.
"Max finds you exciting and sexy?! Just how did you manage to get him to say that?" Niles sputtered, "and why are you so happy about it?" he pouted.
"Oh come on Niles, you know that I never really wanted him. I was only using him to make you jealous. Is it still working?" She asked, almost innocently.
Niles groaned. "Jealous? Damn woman, the very thought of somebody else looking at you nearly drives me over the edge. You tell me that Maxwell finds you exciting and sexy… I don't know if I need to go punch him, or kiss you until you forget his name."
"Oh, I choose the latter. In fact, I don't think that kissing will be enough. I think.." she took his hand and started leading him to the stairs "I think that I'm going to need much more affection than that. Think you're up for it, Butler Boy?"
"Oh I'm up for it. And the only coherent thing you'll be able to say when I'm done with you is "God Niles that was amazing."
"Promises. Promises".
